SILVERY GIBBON PROJECT NEWSLETTERThe Page 1 February 2011 SILVERY GIBBON PROJECT

PO BOX 335 COMO 6952 WESTERN AUSTRALIA Website: www.silvery.org.au E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 61 8 92933052

February 2011

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Dear Members and Friends Hope to see as many of our Perth based members at the upcoming walkathon on Sunday We trust you all had a safe and enjoyable 6 March. For more information on this and other Christmas and New Year period as we now projects please visit our website or become a make our way into 2011. Thank you all once friend on the 'Silvery Gibbon' facebook page. again for your support throughout 2010. Take care In gibbon news we are excited to report that we have recently heard the call to once again provide some funding support for conservation Clare Campbell efforts for the Critically Endangered Kloss President, Silvery Gibbon Project

Gibbon from the Mentawai Islands, Sumatra. Silvery Gibbon Project (SGP) has partnered with Kalaweit and we look forward to hearing of progress on this important effort to conserve this species. JOIN THE SILVERY GIBBON

Of course we have continued to provide support PROJECT TODAY, and funding to the Javan Gibbon Centre (JGC), AND RECEIVE 15 MONTHS MEMBERSHIP and I am currently in Java exploring opportunities FOR THE COST OF 12 MONTHS to implement the Global Co-operative Management Program activities. I have also had If you are not a member, please, join today, the opportunity to visit some of the partner pay only $30 projects supported by the Asian Rhino Project. and your membership will be current until the Of particular interest was a visit to Ujung Kulon end of June 2012 National Park on the Western tip of Java, also home to one of the more significant populations of Javan (Silvery) gibbon. This region presents REMEMBER, YOUR SUPPORT IS SAVING A an ideal opportunity for us to pool resources by SPECIES partnering with rhino conservation groups in SILVERY GIBBON PROJECT IS preserving this critical habitat. I was deeply CONSERVATION IN ACTION impressed with the dedicated teams of RPU, and really hope we can implement a similar protection program for Javan (Silvery) gibbon PS, SEND US A DONATION BEFORE populations in other areas, within the next year. 30 JUNE 2011

AND YOU CAN CLAIM THAT DONATION We are also looking forward to hosting two long- standing staff from the JGC at Perth Zoo later in THIS TAX YEAR February. We hope they will gain valuable experience from their time at the zoo and look forward to showing them a little bit of Australia!

SILVERY GIBBON PROJECT NEWSLETTER Page 2 February 2011 WALKATHON – 6 MARCH 2011 COMMITTEE PROFILE: CLARE CAMPBELL The Silvery Gibbon Project has joined forces with the Australian Orangutan Project and the Clare is Supervisor of Primates at Perth Zoo. Asian Rhino Project again this year for the After having worked with the Gibbons at the zoo, Walkathon for the Endangered Asian Clare joined Silvery Gibbon Project, was elected Animals. to the Committee around seven years ago, and

The Walkathon is to be held on Sunday 6 became its President five years ago. Clare was March 2011 at Lake Monger Reserve, born in Ballarat, Victoria. She came to Perth in Wembley. Registrations will be open from 2000 after completing her Zoology and Marine 8am with the walk starting promptly from the biology degree in Queensland. She took a job at Dodd Street Picnic Area commencing at 9am Perth Zoo, first working with Australian fauna, (refer map below). and then moved into the Primates section in 2001, where she was able to work with Silvery Help us make it an even bigger event this Gibbons. year by bringing your family and friends for the scenic 3.5km walk! “I was really fortunate to be given the opportunity to hand raise one of the Gibbons at the zoo Seek out as many sponsors as you can for whose mother had experienced difficulties. I the 3.5km walk and be in the running to win developed a real appreciation and fascination of great prizes! Download registration and these creatures; and came to understand the sponsorship forms at www.silvery.org.au. serious plight that all gibbon species were in. It

All funds raised will go directly towards the really bothered me that they get so much less endangered Asian Rhinos, Silvery Gibbons attention than other apes, yet their numbers in and Sumatran Orangutans. the wild have even more seriously declined. My personal aim is to make Silvery gibbons the most There will also be entertainment for the kids protected and secure ape species in the wild; including a bouncy castle and face painting, a and I think we can achieve that”. sausage sizzle, and each charity will be showcasing their terrific work! So help support Endangered Asian Animals on Sunday 6 March 2011.

Please contact Holly Thompson [email protected] or phone 0402001116 if you require any further information.

Meet at the Dodd Street picnic area for registrations Clare with Husband Michael visiting snow monkeys in Japan

Clare’s hobbies (which have all taken a back seat while she is busy saving gibbons!) include music, motor sports and skiing. She has had an affinity with the natural world since she was very young and enjoys travelling and experiencing different environments and cultures.

“I always had a passion for wildlife, and concern for the way we treat animals and the environment. I wanted to make a difference. We have a responsibility to protect animals that are vulnerable”. SILVERY GIBBON PROJECT NEWSLETTER Page 3 February 2011 SILVERY GIBBON PROJECT (nomenclature not yet determined) of Northeast Madagascar, and the Caquetá Titi monkey SUPPORTS THE KLOSS GIBBON (Callicebus caquetensis) in Southern Columbia. CONSERVATION PROJECT Details of their discoveries are outlined as follows. At its first meeting of 2011, The Silvery Gibbon Project (SGP) responded to a request by Chanee, Director of Kalaweit (a Gibbon The Northern Buffed-cheeked Gibbon Conservation Centre in Indonesia), for support of a new conservation program launched to protect In September 2010 scientists from the German the highly endangered Kloss gibbons. These Primate Center (DPZ) in Göttingen announced gibbons are endemic to the Mentawai Islands, the identification of a new species of gibbon: the Indonesia. Numbers are now so low however, northern buffed-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus that without urgent intervention, extinction is a annamensis), distinguishing it from its near likely scenario. neighbour the yellow-crested gibbon (Nomascus gabriellae). The newly identified species The objectives of the conservation program are occupies the high canopy of the Annamite to end trade of the species, initiate a long-term Mountain forests of Central Vietnam, Southeast breeding program, and reintroduce select Laos and Northeast Cambodia. Researchers individuals into the wild population on the claim that subtle differences in colourisation and Mentawai Islands to boost numbers and natural a distinctive vocalisation, together with genetic breeding capabilities. The breeding program will data derived from droppings, indicate that it is in take place in Supayang, Sumatra, and is a fact a different species from the yellow-crested collaborative effort by Kalaweit, the Indonesian gibbons which live to the immediate south, and Ministry of Forestry and the Siberut National are separated by the Ba and Srepok rivers. This Park. It is the only conservation program for brings the number of species of crested gibbons Kloss gibbons in the world. to seven; spreading from Southern China, down through Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. Siberut National Park staff have stated that they intend to confiscate captive Kloss gibbons as part of its commitment to the program. Kalaweit currently owns a small area of land in Sumatra (8 hectares), but wish to commence building project facilities as soon as possible. An appeal was sent direct to SGP and the Committee at its January meeting, approved funds to support this urgent and immensely important program. Information on Kloss gibbons is available at: http://chaneekalaweit.blogspot.com Endangered Primate Rescue Centre Vietnam. Pictures by Tilo Nadler

The males (above left), have a black pelt that shimmers silver in the sunlight, the chest is FOUR NEW SPECIES OF PRIMATE brownish and the cheeks are coloured deep gold-orange. The head crest is very prominent in DISCOVERED IN 2010 males. Females (above right) are orange-beige in colour. The crest, so prominent in males, is In the second half of 2010, conservation absent in females. researchers in different parts of the world identified four new species of primate; two in Crested gibbons are (mostly) monogamous, pair- Asia (including a new species of crested gibbon), bonding primates. They are strongly territorial, one in Madagascar and one in South America. live in small bands in the tree tops, and rarely These are respectively: the northern buffed- descend to ground level. Their vocal calls or cheeked gibbon (Nomascus annamensis) of “songs”, often a duet between a mated pair and mainland Southeast Asia; the Burmese Snub- sometimes their offspring, can be heard up to a nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri) of kilometre away. The areas in which these songs Northeast Myanmar, the Fork-marked lemur SILVERY GIBBON PROJECT NEWSLETTER Page 4 February 2011 can be heard tends to define the territory in Fork-marked Lemur which the group live and forage. In mid December 2010, Conservation “The discovery of a new species of ape is a International (CI), together with BBC’s Natural minor sensation”, says Christian Roos (DPZ). All History Unit, announced a new species of fork- species of gibbons, and crested gibbons in marked lemur dwelling in the dry forests of particular, are endangered. Their numbers are Madagascar. This makes the fifth species of the acutely low, and continued (illegal) hunting and genus Phaner. It is the 42nd species of lemur to deforestation practises increase the likelihood be discovered in the past ten years, all of which that some of these species may not survive the occupy particular areas within the forests of next few decades. Roos adds, “Knowledge of Madagascar. In total there are over 100 species their biology and exact distributions is essential of lemur. This newly identified lemur is the size for effectively protecting the animals. Only if we of a squirrel, has large feet and an elongated know where which species is found and how tongue. It is similar to other Phaner lemurs, but many individuals there are can we start with genetic testing currently underway is expected to serious conservation actions”. confirm that this is indeed a new species.

The renowned primatologist and President of CI Burmese Snub-nosed Monkey Dr Russ Mittermeier, located the lemur back in 1995 in the Daraina region in the North East of In October 2010, an international team of primate the island. "I was surprised to see a fork-marked researchers (Thomas Geissmann, Ngwe Lwin, lemur there, since this animal had not yet been Saw Soe Aung, Thet Naing Aung, Zin Myo Aung, recorded from the region. I immediately knew Tony Htin Hla, Mark Grindley, and Frank that it was likely a new species to science, but Momberg) published their research into a newly didn't have the time to follow up until now," he identified species of Snub-nosed monkey, living said. in the high altitudes of North Eastern Kachin State, North Eastern Myanmar (Burma). "This is yet another remarkable discovery In the American Journal of Primatology they from the island of announced that the Burmese Snub-nosed Madagascar, the monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri) is world's highest priority geographically isolated from other Snub-nosed biodiversity hotspot monkeys by the Mekong and the Salween and one of the most (Thanlwin) rivers. The next closest Snub-nosed extraordinary places species is located in the Yunnan Prince of in our planet. Southern China. The species is chiefly Protection of diagnosed by visible features, such as its Madagascar's blackish colouration with white fur restricted to its remaining natural ear tufts, white-bearded chin, and a particularly forests should be long tail - 40% longer than its combined head considered one of the and body length in adult males. world's highest conservation priorities," states Preliminary surveys, combined with interviews Mittermeier. "These forests are home to an with local hunters, indicate that the species incredible array of species that are a true global dwells solely within Maw River region, extending heritage, and also provide an incalculable array only 270km2 (that’s 10km x 27km or less than the of benefits to local communities in the form of area of the Eastern suburbs of Perth). The entire clean water, foods and fibres, and other population appears to consist of three groupings, ecosystem services”. collectively no more than 260–330 individuals. They remain the target of forest hunters, and are considered to be Critically Endangered. The only Caquetá Titi Monkey available photo – of a killed individual held up by hunters – is not included here. Researchers from the National University of Colombia observed 13 groups of tiny Titi monkeys deep in the Amazon, which they have named the Caquetá Titi monkey (Callicebus SILVERY GIBBON PROJECT NEWSLETTER Page 5 February 2011 caquetensis), because it was found in the The discovery was announced by Conservation Southern Columbian state of Caquetá. “It's a International in October 2010, which provided spectacular finding,” says noted primate expert funding for research in remote rain forests. The Jeffrey French of the University of Nebraska. research team, which included Professors Thomas Defler and Marta Bueno and student Javier Garcia, visited Caquetá in 2008. They acknowledge, however, that some three decades earlier the animal behaviourist Martin Moynihan was the first to record his observations of the species.

The new species is clinging to its existence. With as few as 250 individuals its chances of survival are perilous. Juan Mayer, a former Colombian environment minister, said that due to deforestation, “huge efforts will have to be made to protect the creature's habitat”.

Collectively, these new discoveries demonstrate the extraordinary diversity of species still dwelling in the forests of the earth, and have been encouraging signs in conservation and biological science. At the same time they highlight the severe impacts environmental degradation is having on species throughout the world.

The new species of Titi monkey is the size of a small cat, has reddish to greyish-brown fur but lacks white hands and feet and the white bar on the forehead which is a feature of other Titi monkeys. They live in small foraging groups of 4 to 6 in dense lowland tropical forests, eating fruits, leaves, flowers and invertebrates. They are monogamous, and pairing couples have a single offspring each year. It is situated South of the Río Orteguaza to North of the Río Caquetá. Researchers say that this very rare monkey has a range of no more than 100 square kilometres, of which it probably occupies only a tiny fraction.

The tiny Titi monkeys play an important environmental role by dispersing seeds and pollinating plants which assists the regeneration of forests. Felling of forests for agricultural development presents its greatest threat.

SUPPORTED BY: PERTH ZOO PERTH ZOO DOCENT ASSOCIATION AUSTRALASIAN PRIMATE SOCIETY